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'Let me see if your breasts are fat' - doctor struck off for lewd comments to patients
A DOCTOR who worked at a surgery in Halifax has been struck off for making lewd and offensive remarks to women patients.
Amar Basu was said to have groped one patient and asked "Let me see if your breasts are fat."
Another woman with a kidney infection was told by the GP: "Men need sex."
Dr Basu, aged 70, had been a locum at the Lord Street Surgery and another surgery in Leeds when the incidents happened two years ago.
The General Medical Council investigated the allegations and concluded that Dr Basu had "abused a special position of trust."
Dr Krishan Sadotra, head of the Lord Street Surgery, said he was unaware of the incident and could not comment at this stage.
The first incident took place in May 2006 when Basu was in Leeds.
He asked a patient known to the hearing as Miss A. whether she was sexually active and she said she was not.
He then told her: "You are a very attractive woman. You should be having sex as it is good for you and keeps you young."
Basu asked whether Miss A. minded him talking to her about sex but she said it had nothing to do with her suspected kidney infection and told him to stop when he made further lewd remarks.
The second incident, involving Miss B. took place at Lord Street when she asked for advice about her hot flushes caused by the menopause and she said the hormone replacement tablets she was taking were no longer effective.
Basu told her: "You are beautiful."
He asked her if she was sexually active and when she said no he went on: "Why not - you are still young and beautiful - let's see how fat you are."
He then placed his hands on Miss B's stomach above her clothing and rubbed it aggressively. The doctor then added: "Let me see if your breasts are fat."
Basu denied misconduct but the Fitness to Practice Panel said his actions had been inappropriate and sexually motivated and that his fitness to practice had been impaired.
Panel chairman Professor Michael Whitehouse told Basu: "The panel considers that your behaviour fell far below the proper standards of conduct to be expected of a registered medical practitioner.
"Doctors occupy a position of privilege and trust in society and are expected to act with integrity and uphold proper standards of conduct.
"That trust is not simply the trust that patients place in doctors, but also extends to colleagues and members of the public.
"When you placed your hands on Miss B's breasts and squeezed them, you caused her pain.
"Your comments made her feel shocked and very upset. You abused the special position of trust placed in you which the panel regards as a fundamental breach of the principles that are central to good medical practice.
"The panel has carefully considered all the factors in this case. It has heard that you have had a long and, until these complaints, unblemished career.
"The panel has also noted the positive testimonials submitted on your behalf. Your counsel has submitted that these two incidents, which happened within five months of each other, were an aberration.
"He also submitted that, although the conduct which the panel has found proved is serious, it is at the lower end of the spectrum. But your misconduct was serious."
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